Home invincibility of India just a myth

Kolkata, Dec. 10 -- An honest assessment of India's home performance should in all fairness be narrowed down to their show against South Africa, England and Australia. Playing Pakistan, currently above India in the current ICC Test rankings, involves a lot of red tape. West Indies are trying to find their feet in Tests despite T20 success; New Zealand are still at best a team that sometimes punches above their weight.

India still have a great home record but it doesn't quite state the real picture. Since 2000, India have played 62 Tests at home, winning 30, 14 of which have come against England, South Africa and Australia. But India have also lost 10 Tests to them, two of which have been huge innings defeats, both to South Africa, in Ahmeda-bad (2008) and Nagpur (2010).

And had it not been for VVS Laxman's superhuman effort with the tailenders in the first of two Tests against Australia in October 2010, India would have had a worse head-to-head.

In the two years since Austra-lia's tour in 2010, India have played only three Test series at home - twice against NZ and once against WI. The latter toured in Novemb-er last year, just two months after the 0-4 drubbing in England. India easily won 2-0 and much of the England debacle was swept under the carpet. The second Kiwi tour came after a long layoff post the Australia bashing and IPL. India won 2-0 to remain in serious denial about England's ability to play spin.